The first men’s hockey national championship was played between Michigan and Dartmouth in 1948. Since then, 24 programs have ended their season with the title. But, some of those programs have been more dominant than others.

These are the men’s college hockey programs with at least five national championships under their belt.

Minnesota — 5

NCAA Photos
The Gophers' last national championship was 2003.
The Gophers’ last national championship was 2003.

Championships: 1974, 1976, 1979, 2002, 2003

Minnesota has five national championships, but they all came in two decades. The 1970s were a prosperous time for the Gophers, resulting in three titles. Two of those titles came over Michigan Tech, which claims three titles, while the third was over North Dakota.

The back-to-back national championships in the 2000s were over Maine and New Hampshire. Since then, the Gophers have only reached the title game twice, losing in both 2014 and 2023.

Boston University — 5

Greg Fiume | NCAA Photos
Boston University head coach Jack Parker celebrates with his team in 2009.
Boston University head coach Jack Parker celebrates with his team in 2009.

Championships: 1971, 1972, 1978, 1995, 2009

Boston University also has five titles to its name. But, they haven’t reached the mountaintop in nearly 15-plus years. Their 1978 victory could be considered their most iconic championship win, as they topped in-state rival Boston College 5-3.

Boston College — 5

Matt Marriott | NCAA Photos
Boston College's last championship came in 2012.
Boston College’s last championship came in 2012.

Championships: 1949, 2001, 2008, 2010, 2012

Boston College is the third program to notch five national championships. The Eagles had to wait over 50 years to jump from their first title to their second, but have been more consistent since then. Their most recent national championship was won 4-1 over Ferris State in 2012.

MORE: The most likely national championship contenders this season

Wisconsin — 6

Tom Dahlin | NCAA Photos
The Badgers won the 2006 national championship played in Wisconsin.
The Badgers won the 2006 national championship played in Wisconsin.

Championships: 1973, 1977, 1981, 1983, 1990, 2006

The Badgers are the only team to have six national championships, the most recent one being a win over Boston College in 2006. Wisconsin has won some high-scoring championships — from the first to the most recent one, here are the final scores: 4-2, 6-5, 6-3, 6-2, 7-3, 2-1.

The Badgers have struggled to secure their seventh title, not making the national championship game once since 2006. 

North Dakota — 8

Matt Marriott | NCAA Photos
North Dakota won its eighth national championship in 2016.
North Dakota won its eighth national championship in 2016.

Championships: 1959, 1963, 1980, 1982, 1987, 1997, 2000, 2016

North Dakota is one of two teams with eight national championships. The Fighting Hawks have won a national championship in all but two decades since its birth — three counting the 2020s. Their most recent title came in 2016 with a 5-1 victory over Quinnipiac. Their highest-scoring national championship game came from the 1963 team coached by Barry Thornydycraft — the Hawks topped Denver 6-5 in Boston.

Michigan — 9

Michigan Athletics
Michigan has more national championships than any other program.
Michigan has more national championships than any other program.

Championships: 1948, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1965, 1964, 1996, 1998

The Michigan Wolverines won the very first college hockey national championship, then eight more to follow in the next 50 years. They have more national championships than any other program in the country. Most recently, the Wolverines played in the 2011 title game, but lost to Minnesota Duluth. Could 2019 be the year Michigan gets back on the map?

Denver — 10

NCAA Photos
Denver celebrates after clinching the 2017 title.
Denver celebrates after clinching the 2017 title.

Championships: 1958, 1960, 1961, 1968, 1969, 2004, 2005, 2017, 2022, 2024

Denver was the first program to reach double-digit national championships in 2024, defeating Boston College, 2-0. They have more national championships than any other program in the country.

One of the highest-scoring games in championship history came in the Pioneers’ 1961 12-2 victory over St. Lawrence. Denver had the luxury of playing in their own city for that title game, giving them a huge edge to ramp the score up that high. Their longest drought was between 1969 and 2004. 

MORE: These college hockey programs have produced the most members of the US Men’s Olympic Team

Men’s college hockey national champions from 1948 to today.

YEAR
CHAMPION
COACH
SCORE
RUNNER-UP
HOST OR SITE

2025
Western Michigan (34-7-1)
Pat Ferschweiler
6-2
Boston University
St. Louis

2024
Denver (32-9-3)
David Carle
2-0
Boston College
St. Paul, Minn.

2023
Quinnipiac (34-4-3)
Rand Pecknold
3-2 (OT)
Minnesota
Tampa, Fla.

2022
Denver (31-9-1)
David Carle    
5-1
Minnesota State
Boston

2021
UMass (20-5-4)
Greg Carvel
5-0
St. Cloud State
Pittsburgh

2019
Minnesota Duluth (29-11-2)
Scott Sandelin
3-0
UMass
Buffalo, N.Y.

2018
Minnesota Duluth (25-16-3) 
Scott Sandelin
2-1
Notre Dame 
St. Paul, Minn.

2017
Denver (33-7-4)
Jim Montgomery
3-2
Minnesota Duluth
Chicago

2016
North Dakota (34-6-4)
Brad Berry
5-1
Quinnipiac
Tampa

2015
Providence (26-13-2)
Nate Leaman
4-3
Boston University
Boston

2014
Union (N.Y.) (32-6-4)
Rick Bennett
7-4
Minnesota
Philadelphia

2013
Yale (22-12-3)
Keith Allain
4-0
Quinnipiac
Pittsburgh

2012
Boston College (33-10-1)
Jerry York
4-1
Ferris State
Tampa, Fla.

2011
Minnesota Duluth (26-10-6)
Scott Sandelin
3-2 (ot)
Michigan
St. Paul, Minn.

2010
Boston College (29-10-3)
Jerry York
5-0
Wisconsin
Detroit

2009
Boston University (35-6-4)
Jack Parker
4-3 (ot)
Miami (Ohio)
Washington D.C.

2008
Boston College (25-11-8)
Jerry York
4-1
Notre Dame
Denver

2007
Michigan State (26-13-3)
Rick Comley
3-1
Boston College
St. Louis

2006
Wisconsin (30-10-3)
Mike Eaves
2-1
Boston College
Milwaukee

2005
Denver (32-9-2)
George Gwozdecky
4-1
North Dakota
Columbus, Ohio

2004
Denver (27-12-5)
George Gwozdecky
1-0
Maine
Boston

2003
Minnesota (30-8-9)
Don Lucia
5-1
New Hampshire
Buffalo, N.Y.

2002
Minnesota (32-8-4)
Don Lucia
4-3 (ot)
Maine
St. Paul, Minn.

2001
Boston College (33-8-2)
Jerry York
3-2 (ot)
North Dakota
Albany, N.Y.

2000
North Dakota (31-8-5)
Dean Blais
4-2
Boston College
Providence, R.I.

1999
Maine (31-6-4)
Shawn Walsh
3-2 (ot)
New Hampshire
Anaheim, Calif.

1998
Michigan (32-11-1)
Gordon “Red” Berenson
3-2 (ot)
Boston College
Boston

1997
North Dakota (31-10-2)
Dean Blais
6-4
Boston University
Milwaukee

1996
Michigan (33-7-2)
Gordon “Red” Berenson
3-2 (ot)
Colorado College
Cincinnati

1995
Boston University (31-6-3)
Jack Parker
6-2
Maine
Providence, R.I.

1994
Lake Superior State (31-10-4)
Jeff Jackson
9-1
Boston University
St. Paul, Minn.

1993
Maine (42-1-2)
Shawn Walsh
5-4
Lake Superior State
Milwaukee

1992
Lake Superior State (30-9-4)
Jeff Jackson
5-3
#Wisconsin
Albany, N.Y.

1991
Northern Michigan (38-5-4)
Rick Comley
8-7 (3ot)
Boston University
St. Paul, Minn.

1990
Wisconsin (36-9-1)
Jeff Sauer
7-3
Colgate
Detroit

1989
Harvard (31-3)
Bill Cleary
4-3 (ot)
Minnesota
St. Paul, Minn.

1988
Lake Superior State (33-7-6)
Frank Anzalone
4-3 (ot)
St. Lawrence
Lake Placid, N.Y.

1987
North Dakota (40-8)
John “Gino” Gasparini
5-3
Michigan State
Detroit

1986
Michigan State (34-9-2)
Ron Mason
6-5
Harvard
Providence, R.I.

1985
Rensselaer (35-2-1)
Mike Addesa
2-1
Providence
Detroit

1984
Bowling Green (34-8-2)
Jerry York
5-4 (4ot)
Minnesota Duluth
Lake Placid, N.Y.

1983
Wisconsin (33-10-4)
Jeff Sauer
6-2
Harvard
Grand Forks, N.D.

1982
North Dakota (35-12)
John “Gino” Gasparini
5-2
Wisconsin
Providence, R.I.

1981
Wisconsin (27-14-1)
Bob Johnson
6-3
Minnesota
Duluth, Minnesota

1980
North Dakota (31-8-1)
John “Gino” Gasparini
5-2
Northern Michigan
Providence, R.I.

1979
Minnesota (32-11-1)
Herb Brooks
4-3
North Dakota
Detroit

1978
Boston University (30-2)
Jack Parker
5-3
Boston College
Providence, R.I.

1977
Wisconsin (37-7-1)
Bob Johnson
6-5 (ot)
Michigan
Detroit

1976
Minnesota (28-14-2)
Herb Brooks
6-4
Michigan Tech
Denver

1975
Michigan Tech (32-10)
John MacInnes
6-1
Minnesota
St. Louis

1974
Minnesota (22-12-6)
Herb Brooks
4-2
Michigan Tech
Boston

1973
Wisconsin (29-9-2)
Bob Johnson
4-2
#Denver
Boston

1972
Boston University (26-4-1)
Jack Kelley
4-0
Cornell
Boston

1971
Boston University (28-2-1)
Jack Kelley
4-2
Minnesota
Syracuse, N.Y.

1970
Cornell (29-0)
Ned Harkness
6-4
Clarkson
Lake Placid, N.Y.

1969
Denver (26-6)
Murray Armstrong
4-3
Cornell
Colorado Spring, Colo.

1968
Denver (28-5-1)
Murray Armstrong
4-0
North Dakota
Duluth, Minnesota

1967
Cornell (27-1-1)
Ned Harkness
4-1
Boston University
Syracuse, N.Y.

1966
Michigan State (16-13)
Amo Bessone
6-1
Clarkson
Minneapolis

1965
Michigan Tech (24-5-2)
John MacInnes
8-2
Boston College
Providence, R.I.

1964
Michigan (24-4-1)
Allen Renfrew
6-3
Denver
Denver

1963
North Dakota (22-7-3)
Barry Thorndycraft
6-5
Denver
Boston

1962
Michigan Tech (29-3)
John MacInnes
7-1
Clarkson
Utica, N.Y.

1961
Denver (30-1-1)
Murray Armstrong
12-2
St. Lawrence
Denver

1960
Denver (27-4-3)
Murray Armstrong
5-3
Michigan Tech
Boston

1959
North Dakota (20-10-1)
Bob May
4-3 (ot)
Michigan State
Troy, N.Y.

1958
Denver (24-10-2)
Murray Armstrong
6-2
North Dakota
Minneapolis

1957
Colorado College (25-5)
Thomas Bedecki
13-6
Michigan
Colorado Spring, Colo.

1956
Michigan (20-2-1)
Vic Heyliger
7-5
Michigan Tech
Colorado Spring, Colo.

1955
Michigan (18-5-1)
Vic Heyliger
5-3
Colorado College
Colorado Spring, Colo.

1954
Rensselaer (18-5)
Ned Harkness
5-4 (ot)
Minnesota
Colorado Spring, Colo.

1953
Michigan (17-7)
Vic Heyliger
7-3
Minnesota
Colorado Spring, Colo.

1952
Michigan (22-4)
Vic Heyliger
4-1
Colorado College
Colorado Spring, Colo.

1951
Michigan (22-4-1)
Vic Heyliger
7-1
Brown
Colorado Spring, Colo.

1950
Colorado College (18-5-1)
Cheddy Thompson
13-4
Boston University
Colorado Spring, Colo.

1949
Boston College (21-1)
John “Snooks” Kelley
4-3
Dartmouth
Colorado Spring, Colo.

1948
Michigan (20-2-1)
Vic Heyliger
8-4
Dartmouth
Colorado Spring, Colo.